2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

As civil infrastructure systems face evolving threats, there is a critical need to equip students with technical and professional competencies that reflect real-world problems and needs. This study presents the findings of a process used to identify these necessary competencies and develop a rail-focused infrastructure asset management (IAM) module created to strengthen students’ career readiness. Drawing on input from a survey and interactive workshop, the research captures practitioner and scholar perspectives on key IAM topics and competencies. Prioritized IAM topics included risk and uncertainty management; planning for lifecycle renewal, repair, and replacement of assets; and condition assessment and performance-based planning. Prioritized competencies included systems thinking, analytical thinking, communication, and continuous learning. Across all engagement efforts, experts highlighted the importance of combining qualitative and quantitative skill-building activities and assignments to effectively prepare future IAM professionals for practical realities. These insights informed the development of a rail IAM module, where assignments were designed to foster student competencies in the prioritized topic areas. Throughout the module, students had several opportunities to learn directly from rail and asset management professionals, exposing them to day-to-day challenges, emerging technologies, and management strategies shaping the field. By embedding expert engagement and practice-informed content, this study illustrates one approach for strengthening connections between academic learning and professional practice. This approach can be applied while developing educational materials across civil engineering curricula to continuously prepare students for evolving challenges and augment the practical relevance of learning activities.